ICMR Assistant Syllabus 2026: Section-wise Topics and Study Plan

The ICMR Assistant syllabus covers five subjects in the computer-based test (CBT) and a practical computer skills round for shortlisted candidates. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recruits Assistants (Group B, Pay Level 6) for its Headquarters and institutes, and the latest institute-level notifications of 2025 used one common syllabus for Assistant, UDC and LDC posts, with the difficulty set according to each post's qualification.

This page lists the topics for every section, shows where to start, explains the Computer Proficiency Test and gives a week-by-week plan. Many older pages still describe the 2020 syllabus of four subjects; the current scheme adds a separate Computer Aptitude section, so plan with the latest version.

Table of Contents

• ICMR Assistant Syllabus

• Key Changes to Know

• English Language Syllabus

• General Knowledge and Current Affairs Syllabus

• General Intelligence and Reasoning Syllabus

• Computer Aptitude Syllabus

• Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

• Computer Proficiency Test Syllabus

• If You Apply Through the AIIMS CRE

• Which Sections to Prioritise

• Resources for the Syllabus

• Common Syllabus Mistakes

• How to Cover the ICMR Assistant Syllabus

ICMR Assistant Syllabus at a Glance

The CBT carries negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer.

Key Changes to Know

• Computer Aptitude is now its own section: The 2025 notifications give it 20 questions, equal to every other subject.

• The test is longer: The CBT moved from 80 questions in 80 minutes (2020) to 100 questions in 90 minutes.

• ICMR knowledge is in scope: The General Knowledge list names national and international organisations, including ICMR itself.

• The skill test is defined: Shortlisted candidates face a 20-mark Computer Proficiency Test with typing, Excel and PowerPoint tasks.

Older pages may still show the four-subject syllabus or a 20% skill-test weightage, so follow the notification of the cycle you apply for.

English Language Syllabus

English is the most scoring section for many candidates because the questions are short and rule-based. The official list names these areas:

Error spotting and grammar questions follow fixed rules, so revise the rules once and then practise in sets of 20. Comprehension rewards regular reading more than last-minute cramming.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs Syllabus

This section is broad, so focus on high-yield areas and keep notes short.

Static general knowledge

• Indian history: Ancient, medieval and modern history, with extra focus on the freedom movement.

• Geography: Physical and Indian geography, rivers, states and resources.

• Indian economy: Budget basics, banking terms, government schemes.

• Polity and Constitution: Fundamental rights, Parliament, President, constitutional bodies.

Science and organisations

• General science and scientific research: Human body, diseases, vaccines, major research milestones.

• Organisations: UN bodies, WHO and Indian institutions, especially ICMR, its institutes and its role in health research.

Current affairs

• National and international events: The last 6 to 12 months before the exam.

• Awards, sports and appointments: Short factual questions that reward monthly revision.

Since ICMR is a health research body, keep a one-page note on ICMR's headquarters, its institutes and recent national health programmes. This is a small effort that can return easy marks.

General Intelligence and Reasoning Syllabus

Reasoning questions at this level are mostly pattern-based. Solve a mix of 20 questions daily and note the patterns that slow you down, because speed matters more than difficulty here.

Computer Aptitude Syllabus

Computer Aptitude carries 20 marks in the CBT and also prepares you for the skill test.

Questions on MS Office features are common, so learn them by using the software, not only by reading. If you can explain what a formula like SUM or VLOOKUP does in words, you are ready for most CBT questions on Excel.

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

A few formulas cover a large share of questions. For example, simple interest is $SI = \frac{P \times R \times T}{100}$, and compound amount is $A = P\left(1 + \frac{R}{100}\right)^{T}$. Keep a formula sheet and revise it every week.

Computer Proficiency Test Syllabus

Candidates shortlisted from the CBT (up to 10 per vacancy in each category) take a 20-mark, 60-minute Computer Proficiency Test. It is qualifying: you need at least 10 marks.

Typing speed takes weeks to build, so begin on day one of your preparation, even if the CBT feels more urgent.

If You Apply Through the AIIMS CRE

Some ICMR Assistant vacancies were filled through the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) of AIIMS, New Delhi. That exam has 20 questions on general knowledge, aptitude and computer knowledge, and 80 questions specific to the post group. AIIMS sets the post-specific syllabus in the CRE notice, so read it carefully if you apply on that route.

Which Sections to Prioritise

All five CBT sections carry equal marks, but they do not take equal effort. The table below is a planning guide based on the notified topic lists and the type of questions each section usually contains. It is not an official weightage.

A practical rule: if a section is your weakest, give it the first slot of your study day when your focus is highest. Use the last slot for revision and current affairs.

Marks per minute

With 100 questions in 90 minutes, you have a little under one minute per question. Sections that take less time, such as General Knowledge and Computer Aptitude, create a time buffer for quantitative questions. That buffer only exists if you keep your static notes and computer basics sharp.

Resources for the Syllabus

• Official notification: The first and final source for the topic list, marking rules and skill test standards of your cycle.

• NCERT textbooks: Classes 6 to 10 for history, geography, polity and science basics; they are clear and reliable for static general knowledge.

• Government sources for current affairs: Press releases and official scheme pages give accurate facts for health and research related questions.

• Previous papers: Papers from similar graduate-level clerical and assistant exams show the real level of quantitative and reasoning questions.

• Your own computer: Practise Excel formulas, formatting and slide design on an actual machine, because the skill test is practical.

Common Syllabus Mistakes

• Studying the 2020 syllabus: It has no separate Computer Aptitude section and a shorter test, so your time plan will be wrong.

• Leaving typing to the end: Reaching 45 words per minute with good accuracy usually takes several weeks of daily practice.

• Ignoring ICMR itself: The General Knowledge list names organisations including ICMR, so a short note on it is worth making.

• Reading without testing: Topic knowledge without timed practice rarely converts into marks in a 90-minute test.

• Skipping data interpretation: It combines percentage, ratio and averages, so it rewards students who have practised the basics well.

How to Cover the ICMR Assistant Syllabus

1. Weeks 1 to 6, foundations: Quantitative aptitude concepts, reasoning patterns and English grammar rules. Begin typing practice for 20 minutes a day.

2. Weeks 3 to 10, general knowledge: 30 to 40 minutes of current affairs daily, with monthly notes and one static subject per fortnight.

3. Weeks 5 to 10, computer aptitude: Theory plus hands-on Excel and PowerPoint work twice a week.

4. Weeks 8 to 12, timed practice: Topic tests and 20-question sectional tests. For timed practice in the current pattern.

The official syllabus and pattern for each cycle are published in the notification on the ICMR employment page: https://www.icmr.gov.in/employment-opportunities.